Revenue.

The total operating revenue for the Dominion shews an increase of £22,689 for the nine periods (252 days) of the current year as compared with the corresponding periods (254 days) of last year.

Extended operations of bus services and a substantial increase in the goods traffic are the factors chiefly responsible for the increased revenue.

“Ordinary” train tickets on all but the small sections shew a decline, which is offset, however, by the increase in the number of bearer and season tickets issued, and the operations of the bus services.

The increased traffic in cattle and calves in the North Island is chiefly due to the activity of the boneless veal industry, and to the good prices ruling for beef and dairy stock. The position in the South Island is normal.

North Island traffic in sheep and pigs has been affected by the wet spring, but a big increase in this traffic is shewn for the South Island, on account of the good season experienced in the earlier part of the current year.

Timber traffic shews a decline of 13,000 tons, due largely to depression in the building trade throughout the Dominion, and to the depletion of forests in the Auckland district.

The tonnage of “other goods” shews the substantial increase of 53,500 tons. The increase not general for the Dominion, however, as small decreases are shewn for the Auckland and Invercargill districts and the smaller sections.

The movement of a lesser tonnage of phosphate accounts for the principal decline in the Auckland district, the Invercargill district decrease being due to bad weather adversely affecting the traffic in road metal and general merchandise for export.

Shipping operations, resulting in increased imports and exports, have largely influenced the favourable figures under this heading.

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